Career College of Law

Hi Sushil!
Being a paralegal can be rewarding, and many in the field find that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. However, before deciding on a career in the field, one should be aware of both the advantages and disadvantages of the job.
Advantages:
1. Helping People: Answering clients questions, assisting the attorney in coming up with solutions to their legal problems and holding clients hands though difficult situations can be quite rewarding to a paralegal that enjoys helping people.
2. Work Timing: Large law firms and corporations may require that paralegals work more than 40 hours per week, but most small firms are more flexible and require little to no overtime. However, no matter where you work as a paralegal, your hours will almost certainly be first shift hours, beginning between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and ending sometime between 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., even with overtime. Paralegals often have flexible break and lunch times as well.
3. Salary and Benefits: While most paralegals do not start out making a lot of money or having great benefits as a paralegal, it is possible to work your way up to earning a very good living.
Disadvantages:
One of the biggest disadvantages of being a paralegal may be that there is very limited room for career advancement, particularly for those who work in small to medium-sized law firms. Smaller law firms may have a handful of paralegals with one or two holding the title of the office manager or senior paralegal, and no further opportunity for promotion.
Also, because paralegals cannot sign pleadings or briefs, or give legal advice of their own to clients, they may lose credit for much of the work that they do. Hence, there is a lack of respect and acknowledgement for a paralegal lawyer.